In Culture Dominated by Men, Questions About Women's Vote

BASRA, Iraq, Jan. 29 - The great unknown in Iraq is what women will do when they step behind the cardboard voting booths in a rare moment away from the immediate influence of husbands, sheiks and other clerics.

In the south, at least, where many expect a landslide victory by the Shiite clerical parties that could tip the national tally, interviews with a range of women suggest that their potential half of the vote is actually in considerable doubt.

Many women here express resentment over the de facto control that clerics already exercise in their lives and they cite clerical rule in Iran as an example to be avoided. Many say that in the privacy of the polling booth, whatever the sheik may have directed will not be in play.

"I would go and listen to him and see if his words would be of interest to me," said Om Muntadhar, an elderly government worker and a member of a local aid society. "But when I go to the booth, I will do as I wish."

Women in Basra generally cite security and stability as top concerns for election day and put religion lower on the list. Partly for that reason, Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's secular party scores high here in interviews with women. Even with daily attacks by insurgents, he has cultivated an image of decisiveness and strength, qualities constantly mentioned by women here who intend to vote for him.

Two other women at the aid society left no shred of doubt about their positions. "We want a really strong person, not a sheik," said Iman Abdul Karik, also a government worker. And Iman al-Timimi, a translator, said she had heard the same message from women again and again: "No one would vote for the turbans."

The savviest of the political parties, all required by law to have women make up at least one-third of their candidate lists, understand the power of women in this contest and are heedful of their importance.

"According to our religion, we have a special respect for women," said Salah al-Battat, head of the Basra branch of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, an influential Shiite clerical association that backs the United Iraqi Coalition, a heavily religious ticket.

Relating a story about a man who objected to the 33 percent requirement, Mr. Battat said, "I told him this is less than women deserve; it should be at least 50 percent."

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In interviews on Saturday, many women in Basra were reluctant to say which party they would choose, especially in front of their families.

"Why should I tell you about the list I am going to vote for tomorrow?" said a woman who was out with her four daughters and asked not to be identified. "It is my secret."

But several allowed that they would heed their husbands.

"I will follow my husband -- he knows better than I do," said Om Sajad, who was selling biscuits and drinks at a small stand and said she was living in an abandoned government building. "I don't even know where the polling center is."

"I think," she added, "that he has a tendency toward the Shiite lists."

Muhammad Abboud, a journalist, speaking of his wife in a response that was revealing in itself, said: "Basically, I've given her full freedom on whom to follow politically. I don't oppose any political attitude."

His wife, Violet Ahram Eessa, who converted from Christianity to Islam when she married Mr. Abboud, will vote with the Communists, a party that some polls show running in the top three with Dr. Allawi's party and the United Iraqi Coalition.

Mr. Abboud said he had written a play about the particular difficulties rural women were likely to have in following their consciences. Most Iraqis who visit the rural areas concede that the old ties of tribe, family and religion will determine how many women cast their votes.

In those isolated settings, the women are at a further disadvantage in asserting themselves, since they often cannot read or write, said Ahood al-Fadhly, director of an organization aimed at supporting rural women in the south. Sometimes, she said, the goal is just to get them to vote, regardless of what influences come to bear on the actual choice.

In those circumstances, Ms. Fadhly said, she often tries to enlist support for the election from the local sheik. Once they know the sheik is behind it, she said, the women seem willing to vote.